Pope Francis has named this coming Sunday, November 19, 2017, the first World Day of the Poor. The Sunday gospel invites us to reflect on how to invest our talents in the world community. The pope’s namesake, Francis of Assisi, models building relationships with people who are poor. St. Francis attributed staying with lepers inContinue reading “World Day of the Poor”

On his recent flight from Sweden to Rome, Pope Francis told reporters, “Concerning the ordination of women in the Catholic Church, St. Pope John Paul II had the last clear word on this and it stands, this stands.” He added that it is not likely to ever change. The clarity of the statement surprised some inContinue reading “The Role of Women”

Sunday Readings: 2 Samuel 5.1-3; Colossians 1.12-20; Luke 23.35-43 “Jesus is the face of God’s mercy,” Pope Francis writes in announcing the Jubilee Year of Mercy that ends this Sunday. “These words might well sum up the mystery of Christian faith. Mercy has become living and visible in Jesus of Nazareth, reaching its culmination inContinue reading “Gospel Reflection for November 20, 2016, Christ the King”

On October 31, Pope Francis joined leaders from the Lutheran World Federation in Sweden to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The event also celebrates the ecumenical work accomplished by Catholics and Lutherans over the last fifty years. Martin Luther started the Reformation in 1517 by nailing his 95 thesis to a church door.Continue reading “Reconciliation Among Christians”

A mere 19 years after her death, Pope Francis declared Mother Teresa a saint last week. In his homily during the ceremony at the Vatican, Pope Francis commended Mother Teresa for her generosity of mercy and for defending the discarded of society. Indeed, in her tireless work, Mother Teresa gave people dignity by seeing theirContinue reading “Mother, Now Saint”